Solar power take off

ABSTRACT

A system for converting DC electrical solar generated energy to AC electrical energy. A DC motor is driven by electricity obtained from DC electrical energy producing solar panels. The DC motor drives an air compressor which in turn provides, via Archimedes&#39; principle, a constant flow of air to a submerged cross-flow turbine. The turbine is rotated by the rising air bubbles through the water. An AC generator is connected to the shaft of the turbine. The output of the AC generator is then fed to the consumers or homeowners electrical supply lines.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The following patents were found as a result of a preliminarypatentability search on this application:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,246

U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,626

U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,909

U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,893

U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,826

U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,591

U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,426

U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,218

U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,114

U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,590

U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,660

U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,354

U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,080

U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,402

U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,148

U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,961

U.S. Pat. No. 389,125

U.S. Pat. No. 527,379

None of these patents show the claimed invention. U.S. Pat. No.4,038,826 to John S. Shaw entitled "Solar Energy System UtilizingBouyancy as a Conversion Force" concerns a closed cycle energyconversion system adaptable for use with solar collectors and othersources of available heat for increasing the temperature of acirculating fluid to a super heated condition and employing asubstantially vertically positioned gas expander column comprising anendless arrangement of cups journaled for moving in a closed path withina liquid medium. U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,893 to John B. Shaw entitled "OpenCycle Solar Energy System Utilizing Bouyancy as a Conversion Force" issimilar to the John S. Shaw patent. There are several patents relatingto recirculating submersible turbines such as Robert L. Pruitt's U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,266,402 and 4,170,114 and to Charles M. Johnson's U.S. Pat.No. 4,054,031.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,218 entitled "Bouyancy Operated Sunmill" issued toErick R. Rayboy concerns a sun powered engine to convert the heat of thesun's rays into mechanical energy which can be used to power a generatoror other mechanism having a rotating shaft. It uses heat expandedtrapped bubbles to provide bouyancy to vanes contained within a sealeddrum thereby causing the drum to rotate.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,909 entitled "Solar Heat Energy Conversion System"is a system for converting solar heat energy to electrical energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for generating alternating current(AC) electrical energy from direct current (DC) electrical energyproduced by a solar panel. In recent years the demand for all forms ofenergy has literally sky-rocketed. The construction of hydroelectricalfacilities, the development of fossil fuel resources and nucleargenerators has continued at a rather rapid rate but it becomesincreasingly evident for a number of reasons that these efforts areinadequate to keep pace with the demands of the growing population.

One of the concerns of one of these sources is the enviornment concerns.However; there is one source of energy for which there are really noserious environmental concerns which is very abundent and that is solarenergy.

In climates where there is an abundance of sunshine throughout the year,there is a growing interest in the harnessing of solar energy.Homeowners and industrial operations are recognizing the potential valueof having their own independent power sources which are not subject tointerruption. Many homeowners in the southwestern part of the UnitedStates are using various type solar devices to tap this source. Some aremerely devices which are thermal in nature and merely rely upon the heatfrom the sun to heat water or heat the home or do other tasks. There isa growing industry which develops solar panels which generates DCelectrical energy direct. However, the DC energy needs to be convered toAC energy for most home uses. This present invention describes a noveland efficient way of making this conversion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention uses a solar panel which generates directly DC electricalenergy. This DC electrical energy has to be converted to AC electricalenergy by my novel system which utilizes a submerged cross-flow turbinewhich is filled with water to above the turbine blades. Air is injectedthrough flutter valves at the bottom of the cross-flow turbine and risesrapidly through the water and drives the turbine. The air is obtained byan air compressor which is driven by a DC electrical motor which getsits energy from the solar panels themselves.

The rotation of the turbine is used to drive an AC electrical generatorto generate electricity for use and especially home use.

Switches are provided in the outlet conduits from the AC generator tothe house wiring system so that when power goes off from the ACgenerator, switches automatically connect the house wiring system to anelectrical service utility company.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a layout of my DC-AC converter.

FIG. 2 shows detail of my cross-flow turbine connected to an ACgenerator.

FIG. 3 is a side view of my cross-flow turbine showing air risingthrough the water to drive the turbine wheel.

FIG. 4 shows a general wiring diagram of my switches for automaticallyswitching the house wiring system between the AC generator and thesupply lines from an electrical utility company.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the layout of my system by which solar power is effectivelyused to power a continuous flow air compressor which, in turn, viaArchimedes' principal provides a constant flow of air to the submergedcross-flow turbine which in turn powers a suitable AC electricalgenerator. More particularly shown in FIG. 1 is a solar panel 10 whichmay be mounted on a roof top for example. This solar panel is any of therecently developed panels which converts solar energy directly to DCenergy. As is well known, most homes have appliances which areengineered and constructed for use of AC electrical energy. Therefore,there needs to be a way of converting this DC electrical energy to ACelectrical energy.

The outlet from solar panel 10 is connected through electrical conduits12 and 14 to a DC voltage regulator 16. The output of DC electricalvoltage regulator 16 is connected through electrical conduits 18 and 20to a DC electrical motor 22. I provide a battery pack 24 which isconnected to conduits 12 and 14. The batteries allow the system tofunction for a limited time depending on the AC power drain in theabsence of light for energizing the solar panels 10. The voltageregulator 16 is provided to prevent overpowering of the DC electricalmotor 22. In order for my cross-flow turbine 34, which I will describesubsequently, to function properly, it must have a constant supply ofair under pressure. To obtain this, I provide air compressor 26 whichhas shaft 31 connected by coupling 28 to the output shaft 30 of DC motor22.

The output from the air compressor 26 is used to provide the air fordriving cross-flow turbine 34 which has a turbine wheel 36 with shaft 38mounted in a water filled tank or housing 40. The outlet of the aircompressor 26 is fed through a delivery pipe or conduit 42 to aninjection manifold 44 which injects the air in the proper position underthe turbine wheel 36. Details of this will be shown in connection withthe FIGS. 2 and 3. The tank is filled with water to a water level 46which is above the turbine wheel 36 and fill and level control means 48are provided to maintain the level in the tank. A spray return line 50is provided from the upper part of tank 40 to inlet 52, which may act asa jet pump, in delivery pipe 42. This is to return water spray from thetop portion 54 of housing 40 to the system.

The rotation of turbine wheel 36 is used to generate AC electricity.This is accomplished by mechanically connecting the shaft of anelectrical AC generator 56 by mechanical connector 58 to the shaft 38 ofthe turbine wheel 36. The output of AC generator 56 is preferably 240volts 60 cycle to be useful with most home appliances. The voltage canbe transformed as needed. The output of the AC generator 56 is connectedthrough conduits 60 and 62 to a switch 64. Attention is directed to FIG.4. Shown thereon are two two-way switches 66 and 68. The base terminalof switchs 66 and 68 are connected respectfully to conduits 70 and 72which connects to the house circuit. Switch 66 has separated contacts 74and 78 and switch 68 has separated contacts 76 and 80. Switches 66 and68 have the normal position of being on contacts 74 and 76. Conduits 60and 62 are connected through a switch actuating mechanism 82 which mayinclude a coil with proper relays which drives switches 66 and 68 fromone position to a second position. When current is flowing through lines60 and 62, the switches 66 and 68 would be in contact with switches 78and 80 which is in the dashed symbol. During this position, theelectricity generated by generator 56 is fed to the house circuit. Inthe event this power fails, then switchs 66 and 68 would go to theposition 74 and 76 and would be tied in to an electrical utilitycompany's contacts 84 and 86. The output of switch 64 is connectedthrough conduits 88 and 90 to a charger 92 which has output conduits 94and 96 which are connected into the battery pack 24. A solar switch 98is provided to connect the electricity from the electrical servicecompany to charger 92 when solar panels 10 become inoperative such asdue to absence of light. Charger 92 can be any type charger whichreceives AC electrical energy and converts it to the appropriate voltageDC electrical energy for charging the batteries 24. Charger 92 istypically provided with an overcharge cut-off so that batteries 24 willnot be overcharged.

Attention is now especially directed to FIGS. 2 and 3. Mounted aboutshaft 38 is a plurality of turbine vanes 100. As shown in FIG. 3, thesevanes are slightly curved so as to catch the air bubbles 102 which passthe injection header manifold 104 is provided with flutter valves 106.These flutter valves prevent excessive backflow leakage. The outputshaft 58 is connected to gearbox 101 to drive the AC generator 56.

In operation of the cross-flow turbine 34, air is injected up throughflutter valves 106 and is collected on the underside of vanes 100. Thesevanes provide great power to the turbine from the air which risesthrough the water in accordance with Archimedes' principles. The airstays trapped beneath a vane until the edge 39 of that vane starts tobecome the highest part of the vane. This time the bubbles of air escapeup through the water and into space 54 and can escape through the upperportion of the housing into the atmosphere.

While this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifest than many changes may be made in thedetails of construction in the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is understoodthat the invention is not limited to the embodiment set forth herein forpurposes of exemplification, but is limited only by the scope of theattached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency towhich each element thereof is entitled.

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus for generating AC electrical energyfrom solar energy which comprises:solar panel means for generating DCelectrical energy; a DC motor connected to said solar panel means; ahousing; a cross-flow turbine in said housing having a shaft and withcurved vanes attached thereto and which are submerged in water; an aircompressor driven by said DC motor and having an air outlet; connectingmeans connecting said air outlet to said cross-flow turbine below saidvanes; an AC generator connected to the shaft of the cross-flow turbine.2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said connecting meansincludes a conduit with a header to transport the air from the aircompressor to the cross-flow turbine and in which the header has fluttervalves therein positioned beneath the vanes of such cross-flow turbine.3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 including a return conduitconnecting the top portion of the interior of the housing of thecross-flow compressor above the water level to the outlet of the airturbine.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 including batteriesconnected to the output of the solar panels.
 5. An apparatus as definedin claim 4 including housing wiring circuit and an external AC powersource, a switch which connects said housing wiring circuit to theoutput of said AC generator when there is an output thereon andconnecting to the external AC source when there is no output on said ACgenerator.
 6. A method of generating AC electrical energy from a solarpanel means capable of generating DC electrical energy whichcomprises:driving a DC electrical motor by said DC output from saidsolar panel; driving an air compressor by the output mechanical power ofsaid DC motor; providing a cross-flow turbine in a housing and having aturbine wheel mounted therein with an output shaft; providing water at aconstant level within said housing to above said turbine wheel; usingthe air output from said air compressor to inject air bubbles directlyunder said turbine wheel to cause said wheels to rotate as the airbubbles rise through the water; using the rotation of said turbine wheelto generate AC electricity and using such generated AC electricity. 7.An apparatus for generating AC electrical energy from solar energy whichcomprises:solar panel means for generating DC electrical energy; a DCmotor connected to said solar panel means; a housing; a cross-flowturbine in said housing having a shaft and with curved vanes attachedthereto and which are submerged in water; an air compressor driven bysaid DC motor and having an outlet; connection means connecting said airoutlet to said cross-flow turbine below said vanes, said connectingmeans including a conduit with a header to transport the air from theair compressor to the cross-flow turbine and in which the header hasflutter valves therein positioned beneath the vane of such cross-flowturbine; an AC generator connected to the shaft of the cross-flowturbine; a return conduit connecting the top portion of the interior ofthe housing of the cross-flow turbine above the water level to theoutlet of the air compressor; batteries connected to the output of thesolar system; housing wiring circuit and an external AC power source; aswitch connecting said housing wiring in circuit to the output of saidAC generator when there is an output thereon and connecting through theexternal AC source when there is no output on the said AC generator. 8.An apparatus as defined in claim 7 including means to maintain the levelof the water above the vanes of the turbine.
 9. An apparatus forgenerating AC electrical energy from solar energy which comprises:solarpanel means for generating DC electrical energy; a DC motor connected tosaid solar panel means; a housing; a cross-flow turbine in said housinghaving a shaft at which curved vanes attach thereto and which aresubmerged in water; an air compressor driven by said DC motor and havingan air outlet; connecting means for connecting said air outlet to saidcross-flow turbine below said vanes; an AC generator connected to theshaft of the cross-flow turbine; housing wiring circuit and an externalAC power source; a switch connecting said housing wiring and circuit tothe output of said AC generator when there is an output thereon andconnecting to the external AC source when there is no output on said ACgenerator.